Rangers notes: Richards buys in on sharing minutes

Center Brad Richards said coach Alain Vigneault made it clear from the start of the season he wanted to spread the minutes among his forwards by using four lines. Richards said the balance has been a key to the Rangers’ success even if learning to play fewer minutes took some adjustment.

“Everybody wants to be out there but we learned that short shifts and keeping the pace up, if everybody buys in you’ll get back out there pretty quick,” Richards said. “We’ve had a few times this year where we’ve had to talk about it but nobody’s really bucked it or had issues with it.”

No worries
The questions are growing louder as to whether something’s wrong with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, without a goal in seven games this postseason. Crosby did have six assists the Penguins’ six-game, first-round win over the Blue Jackets but was scoreless and a minus-3 while losing 13 of 19 faceoffs in Game 1 against the Rangers.

“The expectation of being in the playoffs being hard, it’s hard to generate scoring chances,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “We’re expecting the other team to be playing hard against him. Staying focused playing his game and staying at that level is where his focus is at.”

Briefs
Henrik Lundqvist will tie Mike Richter for most playoff appearances for a goalie in Rangers’ history when he plays his 76th postseason game tonight. Lundqvist will make his 75th straight playoff start dating to Game 3 of the first round in 2006. ... Penguins top-pair defenseman Brooks Orpik, who missed Game 1 of this series as well as the last two games of the first round with an undisclosed injury, participated in the Penguins’ optional skate Saturday. Bylsma said there were no updates on his injured players.